W
ill I be Able to Live in My
House After an Attack?
Yes. Decontamination is difficult but possible,
and with reasonable effort and care you should be
able to return to a normal safe life in your home.
S
hould I Buy a
Radiation Detector?
No. Unless you have been trained you won't be
able to interpret the readings. Many of the Geiger
counters available commercially are worthless or
uncalibrated.
S
hould I Buy
Potassium Iodide?
No. Potassium iodide (available over the counter)
protects people from thyroid cancer caused by
radioactive iodine, a cancer-causing agent that
can be released in nuclear explosions.
Potassium iodide should only be taken in a radiation
emergency that involves the release of radioactive
iodine, such as an accident at a nuclear power
plant or the explosion of a nuclear bomb. A dirty
bomb will not contain radioactive iodine, so these
pills are of no use.
C
onclusions
It is difficult, if not impossible, to predict the time or
location of a terrorist attack without adequate
information. The only sure way to prevent such
attacks is by gathering and acting upon intelligence in a timely manner and by sharing that
information with other law enforcement agencies.
Our best tool in the war on terrorism is you, the
public.
C
ontact
D irty
If you have suspicions about terrorist activities in your
community, you should obtain as much information as
possible, including:
Date, time, and location of the incident
Physical identifiers of the person or persons
Any vehicle descriptions
And a description of the suspicious activity.
B ombs
THEN call the DPS Texas Fusion Center at:
(512) 424-7981 (in Austin area)
1-866-786-5972 (outside Austin area)
You may also submit your information via the
Emergency Response Network web site at
https://www.texasalert.tx.gov or send an e-mail to:
A Public Guide to
Dealing With a
Radiological Attack
TXFusion@txdps.state.tx.us.
You may also mail in your information to:
Texas Department of Public Safety
Criminal Intelligence Service
PO Box 4087
Austin, TX 78773-0420
Prepared and distributed by the
Texas Department of Public Safety
Criminal Intelligence Service
PO Box 4087
Austin, TX 78773-0420
(512) 424-7981 (in Austin area)
1-866-786-5972 (outside Austin area)
TXFusion@txdps.state.tx.us
I
Some of the information in this brochure was
provided by the Center for Technology and National
Security Policy, National Defense University, Fort McNair,
Washington DC.
n t ro d u c t i o n
This brochure is intended to answer many frequently asked questions and provide information that will help you understand, prepare
for, and respond to a "dirty bomb" attack.
INT-86 (01/06)
W
hat is a Dirty Bomb?
A dirty bomb is not the same as an atomic bomb.
It is a conventional explosive, such as dynamite,
packaged with some form of radioactive material.
Upon detonation, the radioactive material would be
scattered over the surrounding area. This material
would likely be stolen from hospitals, nuclear
power plants, or other industrial sites. Most dirty
bomb casualties will occur from the initial blast of the
conventional explosive. The radioactive material that
is scattered as a result of the explosion causes the
"dirty" part.
W
hat is Ra d i a t i o n ?
Radiation is a form of energy that is present all around
us. Different types of radiation exist, some of which
have more energy than others, and some of which
cause more harm to people than others. The dose of
radiation that a person receives is measured in units
called “rem.” For example, the average person gets
about 1/3 of a rem from natural exposure during a
year, and approximately 1/100th of a rem from one
chest x-ray. Radiation comes from man-made
sources such as x-ray machines, from the sun and
outer space, and from some radioactive materials in
the soil, such as uranium.
S
H
ow can I Pre p a re for a
Radiological At t a ck?
Stockpile three days of non-perishable food
Stockpile three days of water (three g a l l o n s
p e r person)
Develop family contact plan (how to get in
touch via phone, Internet, or other method)
Purchasing a Geiger counter, potassium iodide
tablets, antibiotics, or a gas mask is NOT
recommended
H
ow Can I Protect Myself
& My Family?
You have time—the amount of radiation from a
dirty bomb is unlikely to give you radiation
sickness or cancer
Follow instructions from emergency personnel
Leave the area by foot; do NOT use public
transportation
Do NOT lick or touch your lips, eat, drink, or
smoke until experts have decontaminated you
Do NOT immediately rush to an emergency
room
ignsof Radiological At t a ck
While the blast will be immediately obvious, the
presence of radiation will not be detected until
trained personnel with specialized equipment are
on the scene. You cannot see, smell, feel, or taste
radiation; therefore, it is important to listen to
trained personnel for instructions. Symptoms may
occur several hours after exposure to high levels of
radiation, including nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and
swelling and redness of the skin. In the event that
you are outside during an attack, proceed to the
nearest vehicle or building for extra protection and
tune in to your local news or radio station for more
information.
If you are advised to stay in your home or office, you
should do the following: Close all doors and windows,
and turn off ventilators, air conditioners, and forced-air
heating units that bring in fresh air from the outside.
Only use units to re-circulate air that is already in the
building. Close fireplace dampers, move to an inner
room, and keep your radio tuned to the emergency
response network.
If you are advised to evacuate: follow the directions
from your local officials. If immediately available, take
a flashlight, portable radio, batteries, essential
medicines, cash, and credit cards.
W
ill I Get Sick ?
The effects of a dirty bomb can vary, depending on
what type of radioactive material is used and on how
much material is scattered. Although a dirty bomb
could cause serious injuries from the explosion, it
most likely would not have enough radioactive
material in a form that would cause serious
radiation sickness among large numbers of people.
Just because people are near a radioactive source
for a short time or get a small amount of radioactive
material on them does not mean they will get
radiation sickness or cancer.
However, radioactive material is much more
dangerous if it gets inside your body by eating or
drinking, breathing, or through an open wound
than if it remains outside. If you come into contact
with radioactive material from a dirty bomb, take
the following precautions: Do not eat, drink, or
smoke; do not lick your lips; and do not touch your
hand to your face or to an open wound until you
have left the contaminated area and have been
properly decontaminated by experts.
H
ow Fast Must I
Leave the Area?
Most likely, anyone who survives the explosion will
actually have hours to evacuate. There is no need
for panic. It takes hours to accumulate enough
radiation from a dirty bomb to cause you to get
radiation sickness or develop cancer.
C
an I Use my Private Vehicle?
If you drive your car or truck, some radiation material
may get inside and will have to be cleaned out.
Listen to local news broadcasts for instructions
about cleaning your vehicle. If you drive your
private vehicle, do not run the heater or air conditioner. When you get home, remove your clothes
OUTSIDE and place them in plastic bags. Listen to
local news broadcasts for instructions on how to
discard contaminated clothing.